Cigarette packaging



Dec. 1, 1964 B. K. SWIFT CIGARETTE PACKAGING Filed Feb. 21, 1962 Betty K. Swift 1N VENTOR.

, Ma W A TTYS.

United States Patent 3,159,272 CIGARETTE PACKAGING Betty K. Swift, 625 SE. 41st Ave., Portland, Greg. Filed Feb. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 174,858 5 Claims. (Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to the packaging of cigarettes and like smoking materials. More particularly, this invention concerns a novel cigarette package, that includes means separating cigarettes within the package, with such means being constructed so that partially or fully smoked cigarettes may be redeposited within the package by the smoker. In the case of a partially smoked cigarette, the

package holds the same in readiness for further smoking of the cigarette, and in the case of a fully smoked cigarette, the package may function as a final depository for the cigarette stub or butt.

A general object of the invention is to provide a cigarette package that includes means dividing the interior of the package into sections, with such sections functionable as a depository for cigarettes after they have been partially or fully smoked.

Another general object is to provide a cigarette package constructed in'such a manner that the fumes of a reinserted, partially or fully smoked cigarette, are not effective to contaminate remaining new cigarettes in the package.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette package that includes means for snufiing a cigarette when thesame is redeposited in the package after smoking.

A related object is to provide such a package, wherein the means for snuffing an individual cigarette comprises a non-flammable and heat-conductive covering for the original cigarette having a closed bottom end, such covering being effective to isolate cigarette fumes from other cigarettes, and because of its nonfiammable heat-conductive properties enabling easy snufiing of a cigarette by the user, without the hazard of being burned or of the package itself burning.

Other objects of the invention include a novel cigarette package that is easy to open and to withdraw cigarettes therefrom; a package fully capable of protecting cigarettes and keeping them fresh; and a package that will retain its shape and will retain the shape of means for snuffing cigarettes provided therein.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, and the same is more fully discussed below,

- the compartments.

in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an opened package of cigarettes, such package being constructed according to this invention, with portions of the package and the contents thereof removed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a separator provided within the package that functions to divide the interior of the package into compartments; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a cigarette removed from the package, with the cigarette received within an envelope present in the cigarette package and provided for snufling a cigarette.

Referring now to the drawings, and explaining the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a package of assembled cigarettes containing twelve cigarettes is indicated generally at 10. The cigarettes are disposed side by side in parallel rows within the package. Of course, the number of cigarettes present in the package of assembled cigarettes is subject to some variation, depending upon the size of the cigarette or like article and the size of the package of assembled cigarettes desired.

The package of assembled cigarettes comprises an outer package 16 including side walls 17, 18, 19, 2t} and a base 21. These may be of stiff material, such as cardboard. A portion 22 including a top 24 of package 16 may be swung to one side, to open the package. Portion 22, in addition to top 24, may include portions 17a, 18a of the side walls. Outer package 16, as so far described, resembles the so-called flip-top box, currently found in the packaging of cigarettes.

Within the outer package 16 there may be provided a protective covering 26, preferably of aluminum or tin foil, or coated paper, or like protective material. The covering is provided to assist in keeping the contents of the package fresh, and in a new package ordinarily envelops everything within a package. Protective covering 26 is shown partially torn away in FIG. 1, thus to expose the cigarettes within the package.

Within the protective covering and package d6 there is provideda separator, indicated generally at 28. The latter divides the space Within the package into a series of opentopped compartments 29. The separator is adjacent the base of package 16, and may extend in a typical case approximately halfway up package 16.

As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the separator as shown comprises piece 3th and pieces 32 of stiff material (such as cardboard) with pieces 32 extending transversely of piece 3% The pieces are slotted, as at 34, 36, and enabling them to be fitted together with piece 30 fitting over the tops of pieces 32. Within the package, pieces 32 parallel the thickness and piece 30 parallels the width of the package, and compartments of rectangular cross section are formed that on their outsides are bounded by the sides of package is. By making the sides of package 16 stiff, the shape of the compartments is maintained throughout use of the cigarettes within the package.

Within each compartment 29 is an elongated cigarettereceiving envelope 42. These preferably have rectangular cross-sectional outlines matching the cross sections of The envelopes fit snugly within the compartments.-

The envelopes preferably are made of nonfiamrnable, heataconductive material, such as tin foil or aluminum foil. The envelopes have closed bottom ends, as by folding over at 44- the material forming the sides of the envelopes. In the embodiment illustrated, each envelope extends a major portion of the length of the cigarette therein, and preferably a sufiicient distance along the cigarette so that the upper end thereof is exposed with portion 22 swung open. It is preferred that the envelopes do not extend the entire length of the cigarettes and completely cover them, as in this manner each cigarette may he left with an exposed portion that projects beyond the top of the envelope.

Explaining now how the package may be used, with the cigarette package opened as shown in FIG. 1, and a cigarette removed from its encompassing envelope, a space is left within the cigarette package that is substantially as long as the original cigarette. This space is bounded by he nonfiammable heat-conductive material of an envelope.

If the cigarette now is only partially smoked, and for some reason smoking of the cigarette cannot be completed, the same may be reinserted into its envelope, with the burning end down. The sides of the envelope may then be drawn tightly about the top of the cigarette, which will operate tosnuff out the cigarette, with the heat thrown off by the originally burning end quickly dissipated. During the snufiing of the cigarette, the closed bottom end of the envelope is effective to prevent fumes from the cigarette from contaminating other cigarettes. The partially smoked cigarette may be withdrawn at some later date and then smoked to completion.

When the cigarette removed is entirely smoked in the first instance, the stub remaining may be redeposited in the envelope, and thrust down to the base of the envelope. The top of the envelope may then be twisted between the fingers, to close off the top of the envelope, and thus to snuff out the cigarette stub. As in the case of the partially smoked cigarette, the closed bottom end of the envelope is etfective to seal off contaminating fumes.

By making the cross-sectional outlines of the envelopes rectangular, they are held snugly within the compartments defined by the separator, and are prevented from rotating when their ends are twisted. By making package 16 and the separator of still material, such as cardboard, the shape of the various compartments, and the envelopes therein, tend to be maintained. The separator is only about half as high as package 16, because its function is to keep the cigarettes and their envelope separated and to impart rigidity to the package, however, it is not desired that'the separator encumber the withdrawal of a cigarette or the twisting of the envelopes. The upper ends of the cigarettes are exposed, as this facilitates their removal from the envelopes without destruction of the envelopes. The envelopes themselves extend above the opening at the top of package 16 with the package opened, since this facilitates twisting of their ends to close them off during the snuifing of a stub.

When the contents of the package have been smoked, the various compartments may contain a series of cigarette stubs, all snufied out and isolated from each other. The smoker in effect has a portable ash tray, in addition to a cigarette dispensing unit.

I claim:

1. A package of cigarettes comprising an elongated outer package openable at one end, plural elongated and parallelly disposed cigarettes within said packag and having one set of ends adjacent said openab-le end and an opposite set of ends adjacent the end of said package opposite said openable end, and a non-flammable flexible envelope about each cigarette, said envelopes having closed ends about said opposite set of ends of said cigarettes,

, said envelopes enveloping atleast a major portion of the length of each cigarette, said envelopes having open ends opposite their said closed endsand a length somewhat less than the length of the cigarettes whereby said one set I of ends of the cigarettes project beyond'said open ends of the envelopes, said envelopes providing a depository for returning a burning cigarette thereinto with such not i niting the envelopes because of their nonflammability.

2 A package of cigarettes comprising an elongated outer package'having an openable portion adjacent one end that may be swung to one side of the package to open the; package, saidopenable portion including a top and the top margin of the side of said outer package opposite its said one side, plural elongated and parallelly arranged cigarettes within said package having a set of ends adjacent said openable portion of said package and an opposite set of ends adjacent the end of said package opposite its said one end, and a nonfiamrnable flexible envelope about each cigarette having a length somewhat less than the length of the cigarette, said envelopes having one set of closed ends which cover said opposite set of ends of said cigarettes and an open set of ends adjacent said top margin which are exposed'on one side of the package when said openable portion of said outer package is swung to one side of the package.

3. In cigarette packaging, an outer package of substan- V tially rectangular cross section, a separator disposed with: in said outer package adjacent its base and comprising walls of still material paralleling the width and thickness of said outer package dividing the interior of said package into plural open-topped compartments of rectangular cross section, and a cigarette-receiving envelope snugly fitted within eachor" said, compartments having a rectangular cross-sectional outline matching the cross section of the compartment, 7 said envelopes having flexible walls and being of nonfiammable and heat-conductive material, each of said envelopes having a closed bottom and an open top and a length that is less than the length of a cigarette whereby a cigarette received therein is exposed at one end.

4. In cigarette packaging, an outer elongated package section, said separator comprising walls of stiff material paralleling the width and thickness of said outer package,

and a cigarette-receiving envelope snugly fitted within each of said compartments extending beyond the top of said separator, each of said envelopes having a closed bottom and an open top and a length that is less than the length of a cigarette whereby a cigarette received therein is exposed at one end, said envelopes having flexible walls and being of nonflammable and heat-conductive material and functioning as depositor-ies .for returning burning cigarettes thereinto,

5. In cigarette packaging, an outer package of substantially rectangular cross section including an. openable top, a separator disposed within said outer package adjacent its base dividing theinterior of the package into plural open-topped compartments each ofwhich has a substantially rectangular cross section, said separator having a' top located intermediate the top and bottom of said outer package,- and a cigarette-receiving envelope snugly fitted within each of said compartments. extending beyond the top of said separator, said envelopes being exposed on their top sides on opening of said 'openable top, each of said envelopes having a closed bottom end adapted to cover the base of a cigarette, and anopentop end, each of said envelopes having flexible walls and being of nonflammable material.

Reterences tCited inthe file of this patent ,UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,224,996 Baldwin May 8, 1917 1,339,577 Roifeis May 11, 1920 1,581,451 Knapp Apr. 20, 1926 1,870,299 Strelitz Aug. 9, 1932 2,086,169 Molins July 6, 1937 2,194,168 Klein Mari 19, 1940 2,750,033 Pickens June 12, 1956 2,764,984 Cohen et al Oct. 2, 1956 2,803,376 Kampfi 1 Aug. 20, 1957 2,818,970 Pou'gh Jan. 7, 1958 2,965,107

Lehv Dec. 20, 1960 

1. A PACKAGE OF CIGARETTES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED OUTER PACKAGE OPENABLE AT ONE END, PLURAL ENLONGATED AND PARALLELLY DISPOSED CIGARETTES WITHIN SAID PACKAGE AND HAVING ONE SET OF ENDS ADJACENT SAID OPENABLE END AND AN OPPOSITE SET OF ENDS ADJACENT THE END OF SAID PACKAGE OPPOSITE SAID OPENABLE END, AND A NON-FLAMMABLE FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE ABOUT EACH CIGARETTE, SAID ENVELOPES HAVING CLOSED ENDS ABOUT SAID OPPOSITE SET OF ENDS OF SAID CIGARETTES, SAID ENVELOPES ENVELOPING AT LEAST A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF EACH CIGARETTE, SAID ENVELOPES HAVING OPEN ENDS OPPOSITE THEIR SAID CLOSED ENDS AND A LENGTH SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE CIGARETTES WHEREBY SAID ONE SET OF ENDS OF THE CIGARETTES PROJECT BEYOND SAID OPEN ENDS OF THE ENVELOPES, SAID ENVELOPES PROVIDING A DEPOSITORY FOR RETURNING A BURNING CIGARETTE THEREINTO WITH SUCH NOT IGNITING THE ENVELOPES BECAUSE OF THEIR NONFLAMMABILITY. 